Brandon Sun - PRINT EDITION
Spring is here, so get ready to roll.
The Kiwanis Club of Brandon is preparing to host its massive annual spring bike auction this Saturday at the Brandon Curling Club in the Keystone Centre.
“There are a lot of good bikes, a lot of excellent quality bikes,” said club member and auction co-chairman Lloyd Brown. “We have a lot of prime bikes there.”
Potential buyers will get a chance to view the bicycles at 9 a.m. and the auction will start at 10 a.m.
The bike auctions are typically held twice per year; once in the spring and once in the fall.
This time, more than 140 bikes of all sorts and sizes will be up for auction.
That selection is one of the largest in the history of the auctions, which have been held for about a decade.
Depending on the bike and its condition, they sell for $5 to $200. Brown said the average price paid is about $60.
The money raised from the auctions is donated to local charities. This sale will benefit such local causes as the United Way, the Healthy Living Centre being built at Brandon University, Samaritan House Ministries, lunch programs for schools and the Brandon Festival of the Arts.
Last year, about 110 bikes were sold to raise approximately $8,000.
The spring auction tends to be the larger of the two annual sales as it takes place around the start of cycling season.
“We’re looking forward to a big sale,” Brown said.
The auctions are a joint project of the Kiwanis Club and the Brandon Police Service.
The bikes for sale are unclaimed ones that were lost or stolen and recovered by police. The club stores the bicycles in preparation for the auctions.
Some have also been donated.
This will mark the first auction since last spring. A sale wasn’t held last fall due to a lack of bikes.
Not that bike thieves show any sign of slowing down.
Brandon Police Service Const. Ron Burgess said that, as of Wednesday, 12 bikes have been reported stolen so far this year. That’s compared to seven reported stolen by April 25 of last year.
The rise in stolen bikes could be due to nice weather this year, Burgess said.
It could be that more bikes were on the road, increasing the opportunity for thieves to strike.
Last year, a total of 92 bikes were reported stolen, which was up from 69 in 2010.
Burgess says cyclists should lock up their bikes when they’re out and about, and they should be stored in locked sheds or garages when at home.
Owners should also record the serial number and report thefts to police.
The serial number of swiped bikes can be recorded in police computers, making it easier for them to be identified and returned to their owner if they’re found.
» ihitchen@brandonsun.com
Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition April 26, 2012
We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high. If you thought it was well written, do the same. If it doesn’t meet your standards, mark it accordingly.
You can also register and/or login to the site and join the conversation by leaving a comment.
Rate it yourself by rolling over the stars and clicking when you reach your desired rating. We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high.
The Brandon Sun does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. Comments are moderated before publication. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
Spring is here, so get ready to roll.
The Kiwanis Club of Brandon is preparing to host its massive annual spring bike auction this Saturday at the Brandon Curling Club in the Keystone Centre.
Already subscribed? Login to view full article.
Not yet a subscriber? Click Here to Signup
Spring is here, so get ready to roll.
The Kiwanis Club of Brandon is preparing to host its massive annual spring bike auction this Saturday at the Brandon Curling Club in the Keystone Centre.
A subscription to the Brandon Sun Newspaper is required to view this article. Please update your user information if you are already a newspaper subscriber.
Most Popular
Sort by: Newest to Oldest | Oldest to Newest | Most Popular 0 Comments
You can comment on most stories on brandonsun.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.